[Local Election Interview] 'Six Defeats, Seventh Challenge' Oh Joongki: "This Time, I Will Win the Gyeongbuk Governorship"

"At one point, my goal was simply to surpass the daunting threshold of a 30% vote share. However, in this election, I am running with the determination to win. The moment hope arises that 'if you vote, we can win,' an upset is possible."

Oh Joongki, the Democratic Party candidate for Governor of Gyeongsangbuk-do, who is making his seventh attempt in the conservative stronghold of Gyeongbuk, shared these thoughts in an interview with The Asia Business Daily at the National Assembly on April 27. Oh stated, "The hearts of the people of Gyeongbuk do not change easily. After many years of persistently appealing and knocking on the walls of their hearts, this has become my seventh challenge," he explained.

It has been a journey where victory seemed difficult to expect. Yet Oh has never let go of his expectations for change. His belief that voters would one day open their hearts is gradually becoming reality. With the 9th nationwide local elections scheduled for June 3 approaching, Oh diagnoses that a wind of change is blowing through Daegu and Gyeongbuk (TK).

Oh commented, "Recently, a warm wind has been blowing in Daegu, and this positive atmosphere is spreading to nearby areas such as Gumi and Gyeongsan. My strongest weapon is being a candidate who can go beyond the ideological divide of President Lee Jaemyung and deliver policies closely tied to the daily lives of the people. I plan to use this strength to reach out to the residents."

Jungki Oh, Democratic Party candidate for Governor of Gyeongbuk Province, is being interviewed by The Asia Business Daily at the National Assembly on the 27th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim

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Oh expressed strong determination for TK administrative integration and early construction of the new TK airport. He said, "Together with Kim Boo-kyum, the Daegu mayoral candidate, we declared that we would enact a special law and achieve administrative integration within two years." He added, "The new TK airport requires private capital, but there are no companies in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk area with the capacity to invest that much money. If we provide land in a way that large corporations want, for example for semiconductors and artificial intelligence (AI), attracting private capital will be possible."

Bringing a top-tier medical institution to Gyeongbuk is also one of Oh's major tasks. He explained, "From a national perspective, Gyeongbuk's access to medical care is significantly limited. Many regions, including Pohang and Andong, want national medical schools. For now, the priority is to attract a national medical school to Gyeongbuk."

Regarding Lee Cheolwoo, the People Power Party candidate running for his third term as Governor of Gyeongbuk, Oh remarked, "Last year, when there was a massive wildfire in the Yeongnam region, he abandoned the residents to run for president, didn't he? He had said he would no longer serve as governor, so I don't understand why he's running again." He continued, "The residents deserve to know the facts. I've proposed a 'head-to-head debate' on this issue."

Oh first ran for office in the 18th National Assembly election in Pohang Buk-gu in 2008. He has since lost in three general elections and three Gyeongbuk gubernatorial elections, totaling six defeats. In his first attempt, he received a vote share in the 5% range, but in the 2018 local elections he achieved a 34% vote share. Oh, a native of Pohang, Gyeongbuk, graduated from Daedong High School and Yeungnam University, and served as the first senior administrative officer in the presidential office during the Moon Jae-in administration.

Oh Joonggi, the Democratic Party candidate for Governor of Gyeongbuk Province, is giving an interview to The Asia Business Daily at the National Assembly on the 27th. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

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The following is a Q&A with candidate Oh.

-What motivated you to make your seventh attempt in Gyeongbuk?

▲It is difficult to change the minds of the elderly in Gyeongbuk with just one or two candidacies. Looking back, there were times when I received only about 5% of the vote, but in recent elections, I surpassed 30%. Because it takes a long time to open people's hearts, I have decided to try again. In particular, as Gyeongbuk's population of 2.5 million is declining, the crisis of population extinction is emerging as a serious issue. I made up my mind to run out of a sense of urgency that there is no more time to lose.

-Do you feel that the atmosphere on the ground has changed?

▲I can feel a significant improvement. At first, just hanging the Democratic Party's sign would cause people to call me a 'commie' and make a fuss. But after 20 years, they now say, 'You are truly admirable,' and many express warm words. In Andong, the hometown of President Lee Jaemyung, the atmosphere is picking up following Daegu, and winds are also blowing in my own hometown of Pohang. However, areas like Yeongyang, Bonghwa, Uljin, and Cheongsong are still difficult. I plan to persuade the residents there step by step.

-Support for President Lee is rising in Gyeongbuk.

▲There is a dilemma. While there is not strong opposition to the President's administration, perceptions of the Democratic Party remain deeply entrenched. Bridging this gap is a challenge. As someone who has shared hardships with President Lee even before entering the National Assembly, I plan to highlight my direct communication with the President as a key appeal.

O Junggi, the Democratic Party of Korea candidate for Governor of Gyeongbuk Province, is giving an interview with The Asia Business Daily at the National Assembly on the 27th. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

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-Your flagship pledge is administrative integration of Daegu and Gyeongbuk, but there is strong opposition in northern Gyeongbuk.

▲The main reason residents in northern Gyeongbuk oppose the plan is the new Andong government office. They worry that its functions might be relocated if the merger goes ahead. However, integration will not eliminate the office's functions. The office will retain its role and its functions will remain intact.

There are also concerns that areas far from Daegu may be marginalized if the integration is Daegu-centered. But this too is not something to worry about. What matters more than what politicians say is what local residents believe. Lee Cheolwoo, as governor, pushed the plan through unilaterally. If I become governor, I will meet with residents from the start, examine the issues, and seek solutions together.

-Is it possible to successfully attract the second phase of public institution relocations?

▲A key limitation of existing innovation cities like Gimcheon is the poor educational environment. Without good middle and high schools, families do not move down from the Seoul metropolitan area, and every Friday they head back to Seoul. We need a long-term vision to expand educational infrastructure and develop innovation cities to the level of Sejong City.

-How do you plan to foster industries by region?

▲First, Pohang is facing a crisis in the steel industry. Measures such as enacting a special law to reduce electricity rates are needed so the industry can endure for the time being. Alongside this, we need to provide stable sources of electricity. I will actively support the attraction of small modular reactors (SMRs).

Gumi thrived in the past when LG was present, but after LG moved to Paju, the economy rapidly deteriorated. We need to create a specialized semiconductor cluster centered around the Samsung facilities currently operating there. In the case of Andong, the 'Bio Life National Industrial Complex Development Project' recently passed the preliminary feasibility study. We must attract major bio companies to this area.

-Any final points you would like to emphasize?

▲I must mention last year's wildfire. While the government is providing compensation to affected residents and regions, it is nowhere near sufficient. The real issue is how to develop these regions going forward, and various methods are possible, such as new and renewable energy, AI research centers, and further public institution relocations. However, dialogue with residents must come first. Changes that go against the wishes of the residents are meaningless. Residents, experts, and central government agencies should form a council to discuss and determine the direction together.

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